Which one to buy - multiple formats?

vans · 12-10-2009, 03:16 AM

Newbie format question

I have been reading eBook since I bought my first Palm in the 1990’s and I have quite a large collection of eBooks in different formats. Can you give me some advice on an eBook reader that can cope with a wide variety of formats?

My most common format is PDF, but I have lots of PRC, LIT, HTML, RTF and TXT.

Alternatively could anyone suggest bulk format conversion software?

Thanks

Laura81 · 12-10-2009, 03:43 AM

There are many devices that will read most of those formats. Astak Pocket Pro and Pocketbook 360 spring to mind as natively reading most of those formats, minus LIT. A good conversion software is Calibre which can be found on this site in that section.

vans · 12-10-2009, 05:40 AM

Thanks for the quick reply.

If I convert my eBooks to a standard format which one would you recommend. Which is the most widely used in eBook Readers?

Thanks

Vans

Laura81 · 12-10-2009, 06:45 AM

Epub is becoming the industry standard. I guess it depends on where you want to get your books from as to what format you'd be predominately using.

GhostHawk · 12-13-2009, 08:17 AM

Jetbook, or Jetbook lite.
What it does well is read more file types than anything else out there that I'm aware of.
Very clear easy to read screen with high contrast.

What it doesn't, is connect to store with wireless network to buy books.
Can add SD card for more storage space. Comes with charger and USB cable to load books.

Newegg and several other sites have them priced below 200$ right now.

For *.lit ABC Amber Lit converter, will save as .doc, .rtc, .txt, and many more, freeware.
Will easily convert files by the folderload. Just choose the folder, where to save, file type you want them saved as.

I convert my pdf files to text so I don't have to scroll every page.
Zilla PDF converter free version saves to .txt only, paid version has more options.
It also does batch converting very nicely.

I believe the next version of Jetbook Updated Firmware is going to do HTML and EPub.
So I'm holding off till they get the bugs out of it. Then will update my Jetbook with the new firmware.

vans · 12-14-2009, 03:53 AM

Thanks GhostHawk. I have hundreds of lit books and I have downloaded ABC Amber. It does not seem to have ePub as an option so I guess txt or RTF will be the next most commonly used for eBook Readers?

The JetBook looks interesting and afforcable.

I think I am getting to an answer. Rather than pick a Reader that uses a wide variety of formats, perhaps the way to go is to find the best Reader and then convert my eBooks to one of the supported formats?

HarryT · 12-14-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vans

Thanks GhostHawk. I have hundreds of lit books and I have downloaded ABC Amber. It does not seem to have ePub as an option so I guess txt or RTF will be the next most commonly used for eBook Readers?

Calibre does an excellent job of converting LIT files to ePub - the Amber converters aren't terribly good. If the files are DRM-protected, use "ConvertLIT" first to remove the DRM.

Quote:

I think I am getting to an answer. Rather than pick a Reader that uses a wide variety of formats, perhaps the way to go is to find the best Reader and then convert my eBooks to one of the supported formats?

That's certainly my view. ePub is THE standard now.

12-10-2009, 03:16 AM	#1
vans Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 1141216 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: ipad, Elonix 621eb, Asus Transformer, Sony PRS505	Which one to buy - multiple formats? Newbie format question I have been reading eBook since I bought my first Palm in the 1990’s and I have quite a large collection of eBooks in different formats. Can you give me some advice on an eBook reader that can cope with a wide variety of formats? My most common format is PDF, but I have lots of PRC, LIT, HTML, RTF and TXT. Alternatively could anyone suggest bulk format conversion software? Thanks

12-10-2009, 05:40 AM	#3
vans Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 1141216 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: ipad, Elonix 621eb, Asus Transformer, Sony PRS505	Which format? Thanks for the quick reply. If I convert my eBooks to a standard format which one would you recommend. Which is the most widely used in eBook Readers? Thanks Vans

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12-10-2009, 03:43 AM	#2
Laura81 Addict Posts: 360 Karma: 407796 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Device: Paperwhite 5	There are many devices that will read most of those formats. Astak Pocket Pro and Pocketbook 360 spring to mind as natively reading most of those formats, minus LIT. A good conversion software is Calibre which can be found on this site in that section.

12-10-2009, 06:45 AM	#4
Laura81 Addict Posts: 360 Karma: 407796 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Device: Paperwhite 5	Epub is becoming the industry standard. I guess it depends on where you want to get your books from as to what format you'd be predominately using.

12-13-2009, 08:17 AM	#5
GhostHawk Data Privateer! Posts: 586 Karma: 62887 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Fargo ND Device: Ectaco Jetbook& Jetbook Lite	Jetbook, or Jetbook lite. What it does well is read more file types than anything else out there that I'm aware of. Very clear easy to read screen with high contrast. What it doesn't, is connect to store with wireless network to buy books. Can add SD card for more storage space. Comes with charger and USB cable to load books. Newegg and several other sites have them priced below 200$ right now. For *.lit ABC Amber Lit converter, will save as .doc, .rtc, .txt, and many more, freeware. Will easily convert files by the folderload. Just choose the folder, where to save, file type you want them saved as. I convert my pdf files to text so I don't have to scroll every page. Zilla PDF converter free version saves to .txt only, paid version has more options. It also does batch converting very nicely. I believe the next version of Jetbook Updated Firmware is going to do HTML and EPub. So I'm holding off till they get the bugs out of it. Then will update my Jetbook with the new firmware.

12-14-2009, 03:53 AM	#6
vans Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 1141216 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: ipad, Elonix 621eb, Asus Transformer, Sony PRS505	Thanks GhostHawk. I have hundreds of lit books and I have downloaded ABC Amber. It does not seem to have ePub as an option so I guess txt or RTF will be the next most commonly used for eBook Readers? The JetBook looks interesting and afforcable. I think I am getting to an answer. Rather than pick a Reader that uses a wide variety of formats, perhaps the way to go is to find the best Reader and then convert my eBooks to one of the supported formats?

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